My Volume 4, Issue 1 weekly

令和3年1月8日 C Y 週刊 January 8, 2021 CFAY Welcomes 2021

The kadomatsu is a traditional Japanese new year's decoration found outside the front door or gate of each home. This decoration, which means "gate pine", was created to welcome the Shinto deity, Toshigami [god of the incoming year] and is displayed from Dec. 25 to Jan 7. (Photos by Emiley L. Murphy)

IN THIS Around CFAY Out and About Liberty Maps ISSUE: AROUND CFAY Kadomatsu: A Japanese New Year’s Tradition By Emiley L. Murphy, CFAY Public Affairs

One of the unexpected joys of living outside the United States of America is experiencing new holiday traditions in your host country. For many countries, the New Year is a time of celebration and remembrance. For those living in Japan, the start of a New Year is usually a time when families gather to celebrate the season, pre-COVID-19 that is. This year’s festivities may have been more subdued due to the growing pandemic, but the tradition in Japan continued on.

“The New Year is the most important holiday in Japan, and is generally celebrated on the first three Just like in the United States, Japan has many days in January,” said Yasuko Nakamura, Fleet and traditional decorations during this time of year. One Family Support Center’s Intercultural Relations important decoration is known as the kadomatsu, training instructor. “It is a time for families to gather, which means “gate pine.” The kadomatsu comes but it is also an important religious event. It is our in pairs and is placed at the front door or gate custom to cleanse our house and visit the temple to of a home. Created to welcome the Shinto deity, expel evil spirits so that on New Year’s Eve we can be Toshigami, it is displayed from Dec. 25 to Jan. 7. ready to welcome Toshigami [god of the incoming year] and receive a blessing.” “For the Japanese people, it is not just a decoration but a landmark for Toshigami to find us, visit, and give us blessings for the New Year,” said Nakamura.

As is customary in Japan, each portion of the kadomatsu has a meaning. The bamboo symbolizes prosperity; the pine, longevity; and, the plum branches and flowering kale represent constancy and fortune. Similarly, as Americans may celebrate the New Year with black-eyed peas for good luck, the kadomatsu represents new beginnings and invites favor from the Shinto deity.

Annually, you can find kadomastu displays outside the Commander, 7th Fleet and CFAY Headquarters buildings as part of a gift exchange. The kadomatsu Page 2 displays were graciously given as gifts by the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Yokosuka District’s Petty Office Association to CFAY’s Chief Petty Office Association, and proudly usher in the New Year for Yokosuka.

For 75 years, CFAY has provided, maintained and operated base facilities and services in support of the U.S. 7th Fleet's forward-deployed naval forces, tenant commands, and thousands of military and civilian personnel and their families. OutOut andand AboutAbout

Capt. Rich Jarrett, Commander, Fleet Activities Yokosuka (CFAY), Godfrey Johnson, general manager of CFAY's Chief Petty Officer’s Club, and Chad Landry, business operational director of Morale, Welfare and Recreation, cut a ceremonial ribbon, reopening the Cruise Inn, a fast-food restaurant onboard the installation. Cruise Inn serves breakfast, BBQ dishes, sandwiches and burgers, as well as side dishes and soft drinks to the CFAY community. For 75 years, CFAY has provided, maintained, and operated base facilities and services in support of the U.S. 7th Fleet’s forward-deployed naval forces, tenant commands, and thousands of military and civilian personnel and their families. (U.S. Navy photo by Ryo Isobe, CFAY Public Affairs) Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 FFSC Virtual Class Schedules

Page 7 While vaccine remains in extremely limited supply, USNH Yokosuka is excited to transition to 1b and begin administering vaccine to the highest priority fleet personnel. Additional infor- mation on future vaccine distribution is unfortunately not yet available.

Page 8 NEWS AND NOTICES BICYCLE REGISTRATION • Helmet CFAY Traffic Court at 243- mil. To schedule the vacate LOCATIONS • Receipt of purchase, title, 3650. of your family housing or packout document unit, please call 243-9067 Starting Jan. 4, Bicycle • Working bicycle light HOUSING SERVICES for Main Base and 246- registration is available at: (Front, back and attached to CENTER BUSINESS 8364/8027 for Ikego, or • Traffic Court (Building J-196 the bike) HOURS email at housingfacility@ same building as VRO. Walk- • Horn or bell (Attached to fe.navy.mil. Ins) Yokosuka's Main Housing the bike) Monday: 8:30 to 11 a.m./1 Service Center and Ikego Without all of the above BIKE RACK RELOCATION to3 p.m. and Thursday: 8:30 Housing Detachment items, you will not be able to 11 a.m. business hours are as Six bike racks behind to register your bicycle. • Carney (Main) Gate follows: Building 1997 are relocated Registering your bicycle Security Front Desk (Walk- • Monday to Friday: 8 a.m. to the corners of 12-hr is mandatory. Bicycles Ins. 24 hours daily) to 4 p.m. Parking, while the remaining not registered onboard • Ikego Security (Building • First Wednesday of every 11 racks will be disposed to CFAY will be impounded 831. Walk-Ins. 24 hours daily) month: 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. QRP. No bike racks will be immediately according to To register your bicycle, For more information, placed behind Building 1997 COMFLEACTINST 5800.2. For you will need the following call 243-9037, or email at as it conflicts with the fire more information, contact items. [email protected]. lane.

Commander Fleet Activities Yokosuka Commanding Officer: Capt. Rich Jarrett Chief Staff Officer: Cmdr. Terry McNamara @CFAY_Japan Command Master Chief: CMDCM Derek Mullenhour [email protected] Public Affairs Officer: Randall Baucom Editor: MC1 Ian Cotter Layout: Hideo Kaihatsu Receive My CFAY Weekly by email! Subscribe at [email protected], subject line: Subscribe

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